Lake Mead N.R.A.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

One day last week we took Paul and Paula out with us to inspect one of our assigned roads as part of our volunteer assignment at Lake Mead N.R.A. They are able to go with us as they are also volunteers, however, they work for the visitor center.

We took advantage of the fact that we would be driving past The Bowl of Fire (B.O.F.) off Calville Wash Road (A.R. 94) and got in a short hike to the B.O.F.

Joyce and Paula coming across an obstacle on the way to B.O.F.

Like most of the trails in the park, the trail to B.O.F. was poorly marked and started off in a wash. We could see the Bowl in the distance and kinda just made our own way following the infrequent tracks of others who came before us.

Joyce and I in front of some red rock.

Once in or at The Bowl of Fire we had to find our way back. I climbed up to the top of some rocks to get a better vantage point and look for a trail back.

Searching for a way out!

Although I wasn't able to spot a trail from on top of the rocks, we did make it back to the truck without incident!

Yesterday, Paul and I left our lovely wives at home and decided to tackle a more challenging hike to the top of Fortification Hill on the Arizona side of the park. Previously, Paul had taken advantage of his duties in the visitor center to scour over their resource documents on hikes in the park. Unfortunately the information was limited and once again we would be forced to turn to the internet for directions.

Ultimately we got to the trail head off Kingman Wash and started off the hike trying to find our own way. We started up the wash below but later realized, that we should have been on the ridgeline to the right of the wash.

Start of the hike to the top of Fortification Hill in the distance.

Eventually, we found the ridge after the foot prints we were following in the wash disappeared! Once on the ridge the serious climbing began as we would eventually summit at 3700 ft. above sea level.

I'm usually a pretty strong climber, but I had to stop a few times on the way up to catch my breath.

As we approached the saddle, we came across a group of hikers from a local hiking club descending. It's good that we did, as we could see roughly where to go for the ascent up the rocks.

Hikers descending and crossing the saddle.

After Paul and I ascended the steep, slippery rocky saddle we caught our breath and prepared to assault the rock scramble.

From our internet research, we had learned that in November of 2008 a hiker fell to his death at this portion of the climb. A hiking club left this memorial at the site.

Memorial Rock to a fallen hiker.

Although I was forced to overcome my fear of heights, Paul and I both made it over the rock scaling ignoring the precipitous drop-off. Once on top, Paul pointed to my Jeep in the distance below.

From the top of Fortification Hill we still had another .6 miles to travel to the summit.

After reaching the summit, we signed our names in the book stashed in an ammo can at the top and enjoyed the views of Lake Mead and Hoover Dam.

A zoomed in shot of Hoover Dam and then new bridge from the summit of Fortification Hill.

After eating lunch on the summit it was time to start back down with the knowledge that we would have to scramble back down the rock scaling portion. We hiked back the .6 miles to the scramble/ scaling area and safely made it down without incident. I felt relieved that it was literally all down hill from there.

Paul taking my picture as I took his on the rocky slope.

It was a long steep hike down. It took us two and a half hours to summit and two hours to get down. It's amazing that neither of us fell on the way up or down as it was very rocky and slippery on the loose gravel. After about 7 miles round trip, we made it back to the Jeep no worse for the wear after having enjoyed a challenging hike!

Friday, January 13, 2012

We have the next few days off. We decided to go with Paul and Paula to the theater at Sam's Town Casino located off the strip on Boulder Highway. Yea, these casinos are so big that many have huge theaters as well as restaurants. The pictures are of the casino atrium in the center of the casino taken with my Droid Razr phone.

Before the movie we visited the buffet and a few slot machines. Paul won some money!We saw the movie, The Descendants. What a sleeper / chick flick!

Anyway we managed to kill the day! Looking forward to the Broncos vs Patriots game tomorrow.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

We've been staying busy, but I got to tell you that I've entered the smart phone world! Yesterday, I upgraded my Verizon account to include a Droid Razor, my first smart phone. Joyce has had a Droid X for the past year, but I've only had the basic phone.

So now, I have internet and text on my phone. Cool, but expensive at an additional $40 a month including texting. I've already learned that I'm able to quickly send updates and photos to our America by RV Facebook Page so, please stay with us and check out our link at the top right of this page for the America by RV Facebook page. Now if I could only learn to update the blog with my new phone...hmm.

We started the New Year out right with a hike along the North Summit Trail in the park. It gave me a good opportunity to check out the new red Osprey 30 Manta Pack that I purchased from the REI store in Las Vegas.

Bowl of Fire in the background.

Joyce

January 4th, I participated in the park's annual Bald Eagle Count along the lake and Colorado River. We set out in small groups in about 4-5 boats to survey portions of the river.

My boat crew!

It was a cool morning in the 40's as my crew and I headed up the Black Canyon towards the Hoover Dam.

Cruising up the Colorado River in Black Canyon towards the Hoover Dam.

We found a number of young eagles like the one below along our designated route. More young eagles than matures!

An Immature Bald Eagle

Of course, we also saw a number of Desert Mountain Sheep like the ram below.

Desert Bighorn

The eagles, hawks and sheep all provoked the same response from those of us in the boat which was to stop the boat and look!

The Crew stopping to admire and evaluate an Eagle

Our crew saw 15 Bald Eagles which was spectacular for me. However the best view was of the Hoover Dam and the new bridge from below on the Colorado River!

At the conclusion of the all day survey and a good 7 + hrs. on the water, the eagle count coordinator gathered up the results and pronounced:

This year's survey went well we had a total of 162 eagles (161 bald and 1unknown).

I thought the totals were amazing but apparently the numbers were down just a few from the year before. Some blamed the unseasonably warm weather we've been enjoying. Allegedly the birds like the colder weather.

Facebook Badge

About Me

Join us as we slowly travel and explore our beautiful country. We are traveling and living full time in our 2010 36 ft Carriage Cameo (35SB3) fifth wheel as we take time to see the sights, meet the people and get to know this extraordinary country of ours. We’ve been on the road since October of 2009 and we expect our adventure will occupy us for a few years. Our two Boxers, Maggie and Rico will challenge us throughout our new lifestyle!
I’m in my early 50's and retired September 11, 2009 as a Sergeant with The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office in Florida. Before that I spent 4 years in the United States Air Force following a family tradition. My wife, Joyce and I are blessed with a beautiful daughter, Ashley who graduated from the University of Florida after only 3 years! Go Gators! She married another graduate, Andrew and now he’s pursuing his career as a Naval Aviator in the U.S. Navy. We sold our home of 15 years in a buyer’s market, February of 2009. The majority of our furniture and furnishing went to Ashley and Andrew.